Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-08-11

not 90 IN. | can't bear Tom Ken.
nedy's comments or company. shall
just stop under the porch till the train
comes, and then | can hand Jim the
lunch-pail and slip away before any
one notices me- -------------a--
Maybe that would be best, assented
Mrs. Hosmer. who knew how dis
agreeable the attention Of the sandy
haired young station agent were to her
adopted daughter But, Milly, do be
careful and take care of yourself. If
anything should happen to you |
should never forgive myself--never!
In fact, have half mind not to let
you go, after all F
What! with this for company said
Milly, gaily showing the revolver
clutched tightly under the waterproof;
what foolish mamma! Now, good
bye! l shall he back before you know
it. And with kiss Milly disappear
ed in the dismal drizzle with skip,
and a good little laugh as soon as she
was out of sight at the thought of
seeing Jim.
Arriving at her destination she soft
ly crept up into the shelter of deep
doorway and looked down the track,
where she expected even now to see
the distant light of Jlms engine. But
not the faintest CLEAN was visible
Surprised, she crept along and peeped
in at the clock through the station
window. The hands pointed to half
past nine.
That stupid old clockv she ex-
claimed petu!antly, as she slipped back
to her snug hiding place, I'VE might
have known it would be too fast or
too slow; it never is right, except by
accident. Now Jlm's coffee will be as
cold as stone--and /, too, for that
matterr she added, shivering and
drawing closer into the corner out of
the wind.
But at the next moment the sound
of low voices almos. at her side sent
her heart into her throat, and at the
next bound her blood few through her
veins like fire.
Don't turn cussed fool now,' ex-
claimed gruff voice in an undertone.
Its a little too late to turn soft-heart-
ed just when the game is ours; and |
amt no hand to put up with no nom
sense, you are aware of that, Bill.
i don't mean nothing, only if | was
sure there wouldn't be no women and
little children, especially little child
rem, ever since Tillle died
Now bottle thatV angrily interrupt
ed the other, with fierce oath. If
I'd supposed you'd ever turn out such
a chicken-livered coward I'd seen you
starve before I'd have taken you into
this. But it is too late now; there is
cool fifty thousand on that express
train tonight, and I'll have it or die.
You do your part and share the
plumber, or you back down and III
put an end to you, But you shan't
stop me-I'll see to that, Bill
Just give me pull at the flask and
III be all right. I never desert a
friend, you know that, old fellow
AL. right, them said the other, now
modified; lets get to work. Mike is
at his post, is heT
Yes, just the other side of the
building. If that station chap sets
foot outside before we've had time to
finish our work Mike will send bull
let into that sorrel top of his before
YOU could wink. He will meet us at
the old oak ten minutes after the train
is due, and we'll be off. Now let's go
up to the cut and get them rocks down
into the track mighty lively. There
amt much time to spare.
AS they noiselessly moved away the
mems last whisper rang in Milly's ear
like death knell Sure there was
not much time to spare! Of course
they knew nothing of Jim's train, that
would within few minutes come
rushing down into the death-trap they
were to set And she could give no
alarm: The express, did not more
than slightly slack its speed to drop
some packages on the platform; no
one was at the station except the
sleepy agent, unconscious OF the terri
ole guard that stood beside him; long
before she could get the nearest neigh |
Dor there it would be too late all |
these thoughts rushed like lightning
through Milly's distracted brain
There was no one to know or to aid |
but God and herself She lifted her
eyes to the starless sky in mute appeal,
then turned and sped like deer
through the darkness toward the spot
chosen for this dreadful deed. Well
was it that she knew, as by instinct,
every step of this ground, even the
very rocks piled on the edge of the
rocky gorge, that now were meant for
the crushing out of human life. Only |
at Jim's last visit she had walked with |
him here to this very spot. Now as
she approached, she heard heavy,
grinding sound and the subdued,
painting exclamations of the men as
they strove to move the heavy stones
from their beds. , -t